Fiorentina created one of the surprises on the final transfer deadline day by re-signing one of Italy's most prolific strikers in Luca Toni, it was announced Friday.
"Fiorentina officially announces the outright purchase of Luca Toni. The striker, 35, returns to Florence after five years... having previously scored 49 goals in 71 appearances," a club statement said.
Toni was reportedly in talks with another Serie A side, Siena, but Fiorentina appear to have sneaked in a last-ditch offer only hours before the midnight transfer deadline.
Although he has played for a total of 11 Serie A clubs, Toni's last successive spell was with Bayern Munich in 2007-2010 when he scored 38 goals in 60 appearances for the German giants.
Previously, Toni had spent two seasons at La Viola, scoring an impressive 47 goals in 67 games including 31 in his first season in Florence.
After Bayern, Toni shared the 2010-2011 season with Rome (loan) and Genoa, before joining Juventus on a free transfer last season but leaving the Old Lady of Turin for Dubai side Al Nasr.
Among Fiorentina's other signings are Italy playmaker Alberto Aquilani from AC Milan, Moroccan striker Mounir El Hamdaoui from Ajax and midfielder Giulio Migliaccio (on loan) from Palermo.
Despite repeated attempts by Juventus and Manchester City, the Florence side also retained 22-year-old Montenegrin starlet Stevan Jovetic who scored both goals in their opening day win last week.
Source: AFP
